Improved mode of preparing inflammable liquids so as to prevent accidents



UNIT D STATE PATENT O ICE.

THOMAS J. BARRON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVED MODE OF PREPARING INFLAMMABLE LlQUIDS 80 AS TO PREVENTACCIDENTS.

Specification forming part of Letters PatentN 0. 6,987, dated March 28.1866.

. clare that the following is a full, clear, and exa'ct descriptionthereof and of its mode'or manner of operation.

The nature of my invention consists in givingto oils and fluids whichare explosive or which easily catch fire from cont-act with a flame orspark, and which are or may be used for illuminating purposes and forother uses,

a bright and distinctive color, so that they may easily and certainly bedistinguished from other oils and fluids. The object or purpose of sopreparing and treating such oils and fluids is to guard against theiruse, by mistake or otherwise, in the place of those which naturallyresemble them, and which are non-explosive and harmless.

Many of the very volatile and explosive fluids which are now used forilluminating and other purposes resemble so nearly in appearance, color,smell, &c., others that are entirely or almost wholly non-explosive andcapable of being used with entire safety that they can be distinguishedfrom each other .even by those who are familiar with such articles onlywith great difliculty, and cannot be so distinguished, or at least withany certainty, by ordinary persons. As a consequence there is greatdanger that accidents, and often of avery serious character,will-happenfroui a mistaken or negligent use of such explosive andinflammable fluids under the supposition they were nonexplosive andharmless, whereas there would be but very little, if any, danger of thehappening of any such accidents could such explosive fluids be readilydistinguished from others. To guard against the liability of suchaccidents it becomes therefore extremely de-' sirable that those fluidswhich are explosive and inflammable should' be so prepared or treatedthat they can quickly and certainly be distinguished from all others.This object I secure by giving to such explosive and inflam mable oilsand fluids a bright distinguishingcolor-as red, blue, or yellow-whichwill quickly and effectually arrest the attention of those using suchfluids. and at once indicate the true nature and character of thearticle so colored and cause a careful use of such fluids, or guardagainst their use in the place of oth- A red color can be given suchoils or fluids by the use of 'alkanet root or aniline, a blue color bythe use of Prussian blue or indigo, and a yellow color by safi'ron orturmeric.

The red color I, prefer because it presents a greater contrast to theordinary appearance of such fluids. The explosive and inflammable fluidsare colorless, as are also those even explosive, and hence there isgreater danger of accidents such as have been referred to happening solong as such different fluids are not plainly distinguished from eachother. A practical and somewhat extensive application and use of fluidsso distinguished by some such bright color has satisfactorily proved thevalue of this method of preparing such fluids, and has demonstrated thatwhen-so treated they can be used without danger or liability ofaccident. mable fluids which will easily take fire from contact with aflame or spark, such as benzioe, camphene, alcohol, pyroxylic spirits,naphtha, and all other essential oils, and-many of which are now used inlamps, fixed and portable. By such treatment, also, a bright andbeautiful appearance is giveu'to the lamp, as well as protectionsecured.

Other colors than those vabove named may be employed, it being onlynecessary that the color used should plainly distinguish the fluid.

What 1 claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-- Giving to explosive and inflammable oils and fluids used forilluminating and other pur poses a bright distinct color to plainlydistinguish them from other oils and fluids, substantially as and forthepurposes set forth.

. THOS. J, BARRON.

Witnesses .S. I). LACE, W. R. RoNALns.

This treatment I; apply to all inflam

